Martin t



@No Model.) 1

IWT. SWOPE.

FENCE. No. 436,904. Patented Sept. 23, 1890.

,Fifi

wihjzsscs; Igeglr UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN T. SVOIJE, OF EARLINGTON, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS B. .IENINGS, OF SAME PLACE.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,904, dated September 23, 1890.

Application led May 8, 1890. Serial No. 351,022. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern.-

`Be it known that I, MARTIN T. Sworn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Earl- .ington, in the county of Hopkins and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Farm-Fence, of which the followin gis a speci- Iication.

This invention has relation to farm-fences;

and the objects of the invention are to pro xo Vide a simple and economically-constructed fence, consisting of few parts and capable of being constructed of inferior materials without sacrificing the strength and durability of the completed structure.

With the above objects in view the invention consists in certain features of const-ruction hereinafter speciied, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a zo perspective of a fence constructed in accordancewith my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same.

Like numerals indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

2 5 1 designates the usual posts, the lower ends of which are buried in the ground or secured in suitable bases, as may be desired. The series of posts are connected near their upper and lower ends by upper and lower sections 3o of fence-rails 2 and 3, respectively. The panels of the fence are completed by means of a series of long pickets 5 and a second series of short pickets 6, the long pickets alternating with the short pickets and the two sets of pickets crossing each other intermediate the rails 2 and 3. By this construction the upper ends of the two pickets will be upon one side of the upper rails 2, while the lower ends are atthe opposite sides of the lower 4o rail.

The rails 2 and 3 are, as is usual, formed in sections, the sections of the rails overlapping each other at their adjacent ends, as shown, and being bound together and to the posts opposite said overlapping points by means of binding-wires 4E.

The manner of securing the pickets in position is preferably by a single strin gin g-wire 9, one end of which is made fast to the iirst 5o post of the series, and is then carried around the outer side of each post and thence between the posts, as shown, so that the upper ends of the pickets are drawn together and clamped against the opposite sides of the upper rail, and in a like manner are the lower ends thus clamped.

If desired, this may complete the construction of the fence; but I prefer to provide a means for tightening or increasing the tension of the pickets upon the lower rails 3. 6o This device consists of a bar lor wedging-key of a length agreeing with the fence-section or from one post to another. l0 designates the bar, and the same is mounted between the short and long pickets,or rather the series of the same, and rests within the upper crotch formed by the crossing of said pickets. By pressing this bar iirmlyin the crotch the upper ends arestrained laterally against the wires and the lower ends drawn inwardly. 7o A wire bail or link ll is passed over the locking-bar l0 and under the lower rail 3, so that said locking-bar is drawn snugly into position.

From the above construct-ion it will be seen that I have constructed a most simple, cheap, and durable fence, so thoroughly braced as to be capable of being constructed of inferior material compared with that rcquired for the construction of ordinary fences.

If desired, the pickets may be of the same relative size, and the binding -wires and Stringing-wires may be otherwise connected and disposed than is herein shown and described.

What I claim is- S5 In a fence, the combination, with they fenceposts and the upper and lower rails secured thereto, of the opposite series of pickets crossing each other, the pickets of each series alternating with those of the opposite series and embracing the upper and lower rails at opposite sides, the stringingwire woven around said pickets above the upper rail, and the key-bars 10, mounted in the upper crotches formed by the pickets, and the wire bails connecting the key-bars with the lower rails, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN T. SWOPE.

l/Vitnesses:

JNO. T. ADAMS, SAM D. LANGLEY. 

